we did a sensory room a few weeks ago, it cost us about £50, we got a pod light from maplin, dd loves this as u can have fast or slow and shines off mirror ball, most of the items we got off the car boot, i made some patchwork cushions for textures, used fur fabric, cord, cotton, velvet etc, dd loves fibre optic light, it can be done on a low budget, dd also found bubble tube at car boot, cost her £3, hth

Im going to have a look on Maplin website, we were at a wedding reception recently [which I was dreading, didnt think DS would be able to handle it] and he was really taken by the lights and lazers that the DJ had, thats what got me thinking.

We did a sensory room for our dd.We put up blackout blinds.Ther are shiny door hangers hanging on the walls.We bought a star machine from find me a gift.DD did get a rompa laser projector for Christmas last year.She has glow teddies.Relaxing music and relaxation cd,s.We put textured siver sticky back paper from b&q on bits of the walls.Also cheap stick on mirrors.This time of year is fantastic for differant lights.Have a look around christmas shops,diy shops.We have just got these butterfly lights and a sun in a jar.You can do a sensory room cheaply buy just looking around the shops and thinking of things in a differant way.

Years ago I went to Action for Leisure (a small national charity based locally, not sure if they still exist as cant find on google) and they had a "budget" sensory room. - some ideas we took away were - the mathmos projector lamp - www.mathmos.com/space-projector-light-6502-0.html. (cheaper than the specialist ones when I got ours) If the child cant see as far as the ceiling they also suggested that it could be projected on to a photographers light reflecting umberella (see amazon).At xmas mirror balls and the like tend to be in all the gadgetty shops.

Ds has a sensory space under his raised bed, and a calm corner in the lounge. I have not spent a lot on things. The space under the bed has a mattress and various squichy cushions and a choice of cool lights. again we have used christmas lights. Ds likes confined spaces to relax in.

Hi all! Very interesting thread and great ideas! I was wondering if a standard lava lamp would be suitable for children? I know ds1 (he's 4.5) would LOVE it, but am just a bit worried as not only is he quite young himself, but he has 2 younger brothers who do venture into his room too. What do you think?